Navigating the dark tunnels with minimal light proved challenging for the three teenagers. They had to rely heavily on their enhanced senses—the Force for the Padawans and Peter's precognitive spider-sense.
"What's wrong?" Ahsoka asked, noticing Peter's sudden alertness.
Peter looked around cautiously. "I'm not sure. It's just... there are some Geonosians nearby that feel off somehow."
Barriss and Ahsoka stared at him with curiosity.
"How can you possibly know that?" Barriss inquired.
"It's... this strange tingling sensation that's been occurring more frequently," Peter explained. "I don't fully understand it, but I've been experiencing it for the past few weeks and trying to figure out how it functions."
"It sounds," Barriss paused thoughtfully, "like it works similarly to how a Jedi can sense nearby danger through the Force."
"Yeah, that's exactly what it feels like," Peter agreed, nodding.
This ability proved invaluable when they needed to evade Geonosian patrol guards in the area.
"Thank the Force these guards didn't detect us."
Ahsoka shuddered at their predicament. "I swear, ever since we watched that Alien movie, I haven't been able to walk through dark tunnels the same way again."
"Yeah, it was pretty terrifying, especially since we weren't expecting to be in a situation like this so soon afterward," Peter pointed out. "So where do you think we are now?"
"What is this 'Alien' you're referring to?" Barriss asked with confusion.
"It's a horror film from Earth."
"You should attend Comic-Con in my hometown," Peter muttered, now adhering to the wall as he and the two Padawans slowly navigated the dimly lit underground passages.
"What's Comic-Con?"
"We'll discuss that later," Peter deflected. "So, where do we go from here, oh fearless leader?"
The three of them stopped and peered into the cavern ahead.
"Oh no, it's full of Geonosians," Ahsoka whispered, her hand instinctively reaching for Peter's arm as her body tensed.
"They're sleeping," Barriss observed quietly. "We need to find an alternate route."
"We don't have time for detours," Barriss said with grim determination. "We have to proceed through here."
Peter shook his head vigorously in disagreement, while Ahsoka's expression clearly showed she strongly opposed Barriss's decision.
Barriss simply began moving forward, with Ahsoka reluctantly following behind her, and a very nervous Peter bringing up the rear.
Barriss paused and gestured for the other two to pass by her position.
"This is definitely a terrible idea," Peter muttered under his breath. "We're absolutely going to be discovered."
"Don't be such a pessimist," Ahsoka whispered back.
"Ahsoka, Peter."
Looking back, they saw a Geonosian's clawed hand resting on Barriss's head. As the person closest to her, Peter slowly approached and carefully lifted the insectoid appendage from her body, gently placing it back down. Barriss nodded gratefully and they quietly exited the Geonosian sleeping chamber.
Outside, the Republic forces were engaged in fierce combat with the droid formations.
Anakin sliced through a B1 battle droid while Rex and Domino Squad provided covering fire from close behind.
Steve raised his shield to provide protection for Commander Bly while clone troopers eliminated several droids in the immediate area. This gave Steve the opportunity to wind up and hurl his shield with maximum force, cleaving through multiple enemy droids.
Meanwhile, Luminara fought alongside Commander Gree and Aayla on the primary front, systematically destroying numerous battle droids.
In the skies above, Sam served as their aerial support, providing fire from above and occasionally diving down to eliminate droids that threatened to overwhelm a flank or defensive position.
"This seems a bit too straightforward," Steve commented, joining Anakin's position.
"You think so?" Anakin asked.
"Only battle droids so far," Rex called out. "We haven't encountered a single Geonosian warrior. So where are they—"
Just as Rex finished speaking, blaster fire rained down from above.
"Ambush!"
"Rear guard, concentrate firepower on aerial targets!" Bly shouted loudly, and the clones positioned behind the advancing formation opened fire on the Geonosians attacking from the sky.
However, what the Geonosians hadn't anticipated was the intervention of the airborne Avenger.
Sam weaved through the blaster fire, his wings striking Geonosian fighters and sending them crashing to the ground.
The clone troopers cheered as the Geonosian threat was quickly neutralized.
After several minutes, the remaining droids were destroyed and the clones celebrated their victory.
"Well, that's been handled," Anakin observed, surveying the battlefield.
"This was merely the first wave," Aayla warned, looking toward the droid foundry as the massive doors began opening to reveal something entirely different.
More than two dozen large, dome-shaped vehicles emerged.
"Heavy armor!" Sam called out from above.
"Looks like the Separatists have developed new technology," Luminara noted grimly.
"Rex, Bly—designate your targets," Anakin commanded.
"Yes, sir!" Rex signaled to the artillery crews and AT-TE walker teams.
The heavy cannons elevated to their designated firing positions and opened fire. The Separatist tanks were immediately struck by a concentrated barrage of mass-driver rounds.
After several seconds of bombardment, the smoke cleared to reveal the tanks completely undamaged.
"Nothing penetrated their armor, sir," Rex reported with concern.
"Ray shields," Anakin concluded. "It's the only explanation for how they survived that assault."
"So what does this mean for our mission?" Aayla asked, staring defiantly at the advancing tank formation.
"This means we have a significantly larger problem than simply destroying the factory," Anakin replied grimly.